For a long time, “I have a business idea” has often been followed by “I still need…”. Many aspiring entrepreneurs have inspiration but get stuck at the execution stage—needing development support to build an online store, or sufficient funding to purchase a variety of inventory.
The article states that over the past decade, e-commerce platforms and AI have changed this equation, making entrepreneurship less difficult. According to Shopify’s “Entrepreneur Effect” report, 86% of entrepreneurs say that e-commerce platforms have made starting a business easier than it was 10 years ago.
The article states that logistics is finally catching up with the pace of innovation, and entrepreneurial activity is heating up. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of business applications in the United States has reached an all-time high; the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor shows that entrepreneurial activity is at high levels in many economies. Since 2018, the number of first-time sellers on the Shopify platform has grown sevenfold.
Here are three ways in which the way businesses are created has changed, and why everyone—not just entrepreneurs—benefits.
Starting small is becoming a strategy.
On the entire platform, new Shopify sellers complete their first order every 26 seconds on average. Among those who complete their first order, half receive it within about three weeks of launching their online store.
A store doesn’t need a large product lineup to be ready for launch: 41% of stores launched with just one product. The report shows that service niches are becoming an advantage, especially as AI makes it easier for customers to find specialized products.
The article states that 75% of AI-driven sales come from merchants selling products outside the platform’s top 100 most common categories. In fact, nearly 54% of new stores sell products that do not belong to any of these categories at all. This means that niche products are outperforming mainstream ones, and AI is helping buyers discover highly specific items they’re looking for.
Local business, global customers
Store owners no longer need to be near large markets to reach them. The article states that where a business is founded is becoming less important than what it sells and whether it can effectively find customers.
Today, the average shipping distance for orders from merchants in rural areas is 1,118 miles, close to the average of 1,162 miles for urban merchants. Store owners can also showcase their products to an international audience. Shopify reports that rural Shopify merchants generated $2.9 billion in international sales in 2025, up from $655 million in 2019.
Founders still need to determine which products are worth building and whether they can sustain a living by selling them, but AI and other technologies provide greater support during the early stages. New merchants using Shopify AI business assistant Sidekick are 8% more likely to reach five orders within 15 days. In 2025, Shopify merchants installed 21 million apps to help manage tasks that small businesses struggle to handle alone.
Stronger economic spillover effects
The article states that as more people find a practical way to turn “Why hasn’t anyone done this?” into creating and launching their own products and stores, the impact can far exceed the success of their individual businesses. Last year, Shopify merchants generated over $68 billion in international sales; Shopify estimates that its ecosystem supports more than 9.6 million jobs and generates over $1.2 trillion in economic activity. A business that finds its customers can ultimately become an employer, a reliable client to other small businesses, and a pillar of its community.
Consumers are also benefiting from this entrepreneurial shift. The article states that today, a small store can be discovered based on its own merit, rather than relying solely on media advertising budgets, enabling consumers to more precisely find the products they want. In 2025, 186 million people made their first purchase from merchants on the Shopify platform, at a rate of six sales per second.
The article concludes that, overall, everyone wins: entrepreneurs gain opportunities, the economy gains new employers, and consumers find exactly what they’re looking for. Of course, there is still a great deal of work to be done between “I have an idea” and a successful business. But the latest data shows that starting a business and achieving success is easier than ever before.
The article also directs readers to review the Entrepreneur Effect report.